Core barrel



C. L. DEELY CORE BARREL Dec. 6, 1949 3 SheetsSheet 1 Filed March 12, 1946 CarroIlLD wi y INVENJOR.

H16 AGENT Dec. 6, 1949 c. L. DEELY 2,490,512

CORE BARREL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 12, 1946 (arroli L.Deel

r z 9 IN VEN TOR.

Dec. 6, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 um m m ..6 m;

.g m H \wyx m n w W% R? l n|||\||l\m| i\||r1 \||li u 1 v v l l I l I l l I I l i l l I I l lul y.

Filed March 12, 1946 Patented Dec. 6, 1949 UNI-TED STAT ES PAT OFFICE CORE BARREL.

Carro1l'L. Deely; Dallas, Tex. Application, March 12, 1946,. Serial No.. 653,7 52% 19 Claims.

invention relates toimprovements in core barrels, and more particularly to ,core barrels associated with a cutter which is rotated to cut a core from the earth strata, during the drilling of a well,

It has long. been customary to take cores from a well durin thadrilling process, but in soft and fractured formations the core frequently disintegrates due to the action thereon of the drilling fluid; and in very hard formations the core is frequently difficult to remove from the well due to the inability of core devicesin use heretofore to break off the core, near; the lower end thereof.

Thepprimary object of the present invention is to provide a. core drill and core catcher whereby a. core is formed, broken oil, and removed from the well with a minimum of disintegration and shattering.

A still further objectof this invention is to provide in ,a core drill and corecatcher for a minimum area of the core, to beexposed to the action of the drillinglfluidwhile the coreis being cut or formed.

Another objectof this invention is to provide,

a normally non-rotatable core-receiving element which may, be engaged with a. rotatable portion of the core drill to provide for the clean-cut severing of the core from the earth stratum.

According to the preferred embodiment of my invention a non-rotatable core catching tube is disposed so that the lower end thereof will extend substantially tothe lower end of the core cutter tube. This non-rotatable tube is positionedon bearings so that the core may be fed thereinto while the core drill is being operated. A substantially annular; resilient, core catchingelement isadapted'to expand when the core enters said core receiving tube and to contract upon the, downward movement of the core relative thereto.

By having the core-receiving tube extend to a point nearthe bottom, of the core drill or cutter, the core is protected against appreciable abrasive actionof the drilling; fluid. Just enough of the core is exposed to the action of the, drilling fluid to flush away the cuttings as the core enters the tube 16.

The invention also. provides means for severing the core substantially at the lower end of the core-receiving tube. Dual severing action is obtained, preferably, by making the. inner tapered bore of the outer rotatable member eccentric with respect to the, axial center of the core-receiving tube and core drill bit, and by, providing the axis ofv the core, catch'erdivergnttothe axis, of the core drill. Whenthe core. catcher isseated in, the, core-receiving tube, however, this core catching, element isso positioned that it. will normally, move upward and self-align with thecore as the Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical. section of the,

upper portion of thecore drill;

Fig. 2 is, a, similar view of thellower. thereof 5 Fig. 3 is a horizontalsection onthe.line,3 -3l of Fig, 1;

Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line 4-1-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a viewsimilar a mod dio mpf re c tcher;

Fig, 6 is a cross-section, thereof on the line 6-1-6.

of Fig, ,5;

Fig. '7 is a top plan view of the core! catcher removed from the device;

Fig. 8 is a partial vertical section through a.

well showing a drill stem and .core drill, with, the core shown in dotted outline; and

Fig. 9 isa sectional viewof the core catcher of Fig. 2, removed'from the core barrel.

Referring-toFig. 8, the numeral idesignates a conventional well formed as a bore in the earth formation, Arotary drill stem. {extends down through the bore I, and supports a core, barrel generally designated at3 on the lower end there: of. As the well is, drilled, the. core 4, indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 8, isformed, aswillbe described: in- .detail hereinafter.

The core barrel 3 is attached to thedrillstem 2 by a threaded. tool. joint 5 formed in the bodyS which is screw threaded, tothe upper end of an outer tube T which may be of any desiredlength, but, for purpose ofihustration, may, be twenty feet or more in length.

The body 6, preferably has a. hardened. wear ring, 8 formed. integral; therewith immediately above the outer tube --1. Thehardened ringB may be made of tungsten carbide,,Stellite, orother well-known, hard-surfacing material,

Thebod-y- 6 ,hasan axial openingt therein, which connects with.,diver,ging. passages In that lead .to the interior of the outer tube'L. A bear.- ing, support II is iormed on the lower end of the body. 6 and is adapted to receive. and support a tubular pin H, on bearings 13 and I4. Anut I 5 vis threaded .on the pin l2 above. the bearings i3, so as to. PositiOhproperly, thepin 12: with re,-

spect to. the. bearings. Bearing, l3 may, .be ,in-

illustrated in the acrportion toFig. 2, but showing.

- 3 serted through a hole |3a by turning said bearing obliquely during the insertion through the hole.

An inner core receiving tube I6 is mounted on the pin I2 below the bearings I3 and Id, and suspended by a spring I? interposed between a nut I8 threaded on the lower end of the pin l2 and the closed upper end of the tube Hi. The tube I6 is mounted axially of the outer tube 7, but spaced from the inner Wall thereof to provide an annular passage l9 therebetween, so as to permit drilling fluid to be circulated during the drilling operation.

The lower end of the outer tube 7 has a sleeve 29 Fig. (2) threaded thereon. The sleeve 2|] has a core drill bit 2| threaded on the lower end thereof. The core drill bit or cutter 2| has an axial opening 22 formed therein, which opening is concentric with respect to the outer tube l, and normally concentric with respect to the inner core receiving tube I6. The core drill bit 2| may be formed of any type of cutter, but the form shown preferably, has hardened inserts 23, such as diamonds or tungsten carbide elements.

' The lower portion of the sleeve 20 has a tapered inner bore 24 which is preferably eccentric with respect to the axial opening 22, as is best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6. The inner corereceiving tube |6 has its lower end threaded at 25 and to which is attached a core catcher retainer 26. The core catcher retainer 26 has a tapered outer surface 21 at its lower end, which surface is concentric with respect to the inner core receiving tube IS. The inner bore or surface 23 of the retainer 26 is tapered and concentric to the inner tube H3, and is adapted to receive and support a spring core catcher 29. The core catcher 29 has an outer tapered surface complementary to the inner surface 28, and adapted to engage wedgingly the inner tapered surface of the core catcher retainer 26.

The bore of the core catcher 29 is tapered upwardly and inwardly from its lower extremity for a portion of its length, so as to admit the core 4 into the lower end thereof, which core catcher 29 expands sufficiently to admit the core but fits snugly therearound. The core catcher 29 remains non-rotatable at all times during the core cutting operation as when expanded against the inner wall 28 of the core receiving barrel, which is also normally non-rotatable, therefore no turning action takes place. The core will cause the core catcher 29 to move upwardly from the position shown in full lines, to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, so that the upper surface of the core catcher 29 will rest against the shoulder 39 formed by the lower end of the inner tube 6. With the upper surface of the core catcher 29 resting against the shoulder 30, the axial opening of the core catcher 29 will be in alignment with the inner bore of the inner core-receiving tubular member I6. The tapered lower portion of the core catcher 29 allows the .core to pass freely thereinto, but, once the core starts into the catcher it minimizes the likelihood of the core catcher 29 tilting and breaking off the core prematurely. It is preferable ,to have the core catcher 29 tapered for a portion of its length with the remainder of its length forming a cylindrical portion of a size slightly smaller than the core as cut from the earth formation.

The core catcher 29 has inner axial grooves 29, Fig. 7, around the inner circumference thereof, and has a split spring ring so that the core catch- 4 er 29 may expand evenly as it receives the core therein during the drilling operation.

The tubular pin |2 has a ball check valve 3| seated on a tapered seat 32 in the upper end thereof so as to permit the escape of drilling fluid and air upward through the axial opening 33 while the core enters the tube IS. A retaining pin 34 is fixed above the ball check valve 3| to prevent the ball from becoming displaced. The ball check valve 3| serves to prevent the entrance of drilling fluid into the top of the inner corereceiving tube |6 which might cause disintegration of the core or might force it out of the lower end of the tube Hi.

In the operation of the preferred form of the invention, as shown in Figs. 1-4, and 7, the drill stem 2 is rotated in the conventional maner, which causes the core barrel 3 to rotate so as to cut away an annular portion of the earth stratum, leaving the undisturbed core 4 in the center as the core drill bit 2| moves downward therearound. Drilling fluid is circulated downward through the annular passage l9 and between the tapered inner surface 24 of the sleeve 20 and the tapered outer surface 21 of the core catcher retainer 26, thence downward through and around the bottom of the core drill bit 2| and up around the outer tubular member to the top of the well. The only area of the core 4 which is exposed to the action of the drilling fluid is between the lower end of the tapered outer surface 2'! and the bottom of the core drill bit 2|, which is a comparatively short distance.

As the core receiving tube l6 moves downward around the core 4, the core catcher 29 will move from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, to the position shown in dotted lines therein. During the cutting operation, weight is held on the core barrel 3 so as to cause a cutting action by the diamond cutters 23. After a sufiicient length of core has been cut, the drill stem 2 is raised slightly, which will cause the core catcher 29 to move downward along the tapered surface 28, thereby gripping the core 4. With the core catcher 29 having a diverging inner bore relative to the axis of the tapered surface 28, the core catcher will tilt slightly in an effort to align its outer surface with the inner taper d surface 28 of the core catcher retainer 26. This tilting action causes a cleavage of the core 4 and normally causes the core to break on. However, if the core does not break due to this action, a continued pull will cause a contraction of the core catcher 29 to grip the core tightly and hold the inner corereceiving tube I6 against upward movement, causing spring I 1 to yield until the inner tapered bore 24 contacts the outer tapered surface 21 of the core catcher retainer 26. Since the inner tapered surface 24 is eccentrically disposed with respect to core drill bit 2| and the outer tube 1, the inner core-receiving tube 6 will be slightly out of axial alignment with the outer tube 1 and the axial bore 22 of core drill bit 2|. Then upon rotation of the outer tube I, while maintaining the upward pull on the core barrel 2, the two members will clutchingly engage, which will transmit an eccentric torsional motion tothe lower portion of the core 4, which will cause the core to break off.

During the coring operation, the core receiving tube I6 is maintained in a non-rotating condition due to the swiveling action of the bearings 3 and I4. In this manner, the core is undisturbed, thereby preventing disintegration or wear thereon, which would result from friction caused by rotation, which has been a difilculty experienced heretofore. However, during the severing of the core, the outer tapered surface 21 on the lower end of the core catcher retainer 26 and the tapered inner bore 2d on the sleeve '20 form a clutch to cause the core-receiving tube it to rotate in unison with the outer tube 1. The core catcher 29 is grooved on its inner side and grips the core, which prevents said core catcher 29 from turning relative to tube 16 and sleeve .20 when the core catcher as is wedgingly engaged with the inner tapered'bore 28 of the core catcher retainer.

After the core is broken loose, the core barrel is raised out of the bore hole of the well in the usual manner, and the core is removed therefrom by removing the sleeveZii and the core catcher retainer 26.

The form of the invention described above is particularly adaptable for use in very hard formations, because of the double breaking action while the core receiving tube is rotating with the outer tube, for severing the core.

In the preferred form of the invention, as shown in Figure 2, it is to be pointed out that the center line a. is the true center .of the axial opening of the core drill bit '22. Center line b is the true center of the tapered bore 24, which tapered bore is eccentric with respect to opening 22. Center line is the true center of the bore of core catcher 29, and when in seated position, is angularly divergent with respect to center line a; but when in raised position, as indicated in dot-dash outline, in Figure 2, with the upper face against shoulder 30, the opening therethrough will align with opening 22.

It will be readily appreciated that when core catcher retainer 26 moves downward and is forced to assume a position within the taper 24, that it will move over so the center line thereof will coincide with center line b. Furthermore, when pull is exerted upward, the core catcher 29 will slip downward into the taper and align itself so as to present an axis such as indicated by the center line 0. The component action of the eccentric movement coupled with the bending action of the core by the slip 29 seeking alignment with the tapered surfaces 28, will cause a dual breaking action.

The formof theinvention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 has a core catcher 2911. that is similar in construction to the core catcher 29, except that the bore of the core catcher 29a is axial with respect to the outer tapered surface thereof.

The operation of this form of the invention is the same as that of the form described above, except with respect to the diverging axial bore of the core catcher 29. The core catcher 29a will clamp the core securely until the tapered member 26a moves downward to engage the eccentric tapered bore 2 5a, thereby giving the core an eccentric motion while rotating the core barrel 3, when in slightly raised position. This modified form of the invention is well adapted for use in softer formation where breakage is easier.

It is also to be pointed out that, in the preferred form of the invention, the core being cut in the earths stratum is received into the' inner tube which is not rotated during the core cutting action, while drilling fluid is circulated donward past the core, with a relatively small area of the core being exposed to the abrasive action of the drilling fluid.

When the core is formed of sufficient length, the upward movement of the barrel 3 will cause the expansible core catcher to contract around the core sufficiently to prevent its turning relative to the core catcher and inner tube. Then upon further upward movement of the core barrel, the core is slightly tilted by the action of the core catcher, causing a breaking action. Then upon further upward movement, the core catcher retainer engages an eccentric tapered bore to form a clutch so that the inner core-receiving tube will rotate in unison with the outer tube I. This rotation will cause an eccentric action at the lower end of the core-receiving tube it to cause a breaking action on the lower end of the core.

With a core barrel of this construction, the maximum core recovery, in both hard and soft formations, can be achieved.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. A core barrel comprising a rotatable outer tubular member, an inner tubular member adapted to receive the core therein and sleeved within said outer member, means at the lower ends of said inner and outer tubular members for clutching them together for rotatable or upward vertical movement as a unit upon relative axial movement between said members, a journal carried by the outer member, a shaft rotatably suspended on said journal, and means resiliently mounting said inner member on said shaft for axial movement of the outer member relative to said inner tubular member to enable clutching engagement between said tubular members, said journal providing for rotation of the outer men ber relative to said inner member when not so engaged.

2. A core barrel comprising a rotatable outer tubular member, an inner tubular member adapted to receive the core therein and sleeved within said outer member, means at the lower ends of said inner and outer tubular members for clutching them together for rotatable or upward vertical movement as a unit upon relative axial movement between said members, a journal carried by the outer member, a shaft rotatably suspended on said journal, means resiliently mounting said inner member on said shaft for axial movement of the outer member relative to said inner tubular member to enable clutching engagement between said tubular members, said journal providing for rotation of the outer member relative to said inner member when not so engaged, said shaft having an axial passageway therethrough for fluid discharge from within said inner member upon movement of the core into said inner member, and check-valve means for controlling said axial passage.

3. A core barrel comprising a rotatable outer tubular member, an inner tubular member adapted to receive the core therein and sleeved within said outer member, means at the lower ends of said inner and outer tubular members for clutching them together for rotatable or upward vertical movement as a unit upon relative axial movement between said members, a journal carried by the outer member, a shaft rotatably suspended on said journal, and means resiliently mounting said inner member on said shaft for axial movement of the outer member relative to said inner tubular member to enable clutching engagement between said tubular members, said journal providing for rotation of the outer memher relative to said inner member when not so engaged, said journal comprising open anti-friction bearings open to the space within the outer tubular member for washing action thereof by fluid flowing through said outer tubular member.

4. A core barrel comprising a rotary outer tubular member, an inner tubular member carried by said outer member and sleeved therein, a core drill bit carried by the outer tubular member at the lower end thereof, said inner tubular member having the lower end thereof extending downwardly in the outer tubular member to a point adjacent said core drill bit, a fluid passage between said tubular members extendin lengthwise thereof and having an outlet end between the lower end of the inner member and the core drill bit, and a core catcher supported by the inner tubular member above said passage outlet end, said core catcher comprising an annular contractable spring having an inner opening therethrough constructed on an axis divergent relative to the axis of said inner member.

5. A core barrel comprising an outer tubular member, an inner tubular member supported within said outer member and sleeved therein and adapted to receive the core, and a core catcher mounted in the inner member and constructed substantially annular and radially yieldable to engage the core, said core catcher being shaped to provide an inner cylindrical surface havin an axis inclined relative to the axis of the outside circumference of said core catcher.

6. A core barrel comprising a rotary outer tubular member, an inner tubular member sleeved in said outer member and adapted to receive the core therein, a split, tapered, resilient core catcher ring carried by the inner tubular memher for seating in a downwardly converging tapered seat in the lower end thereof in position to engage the core therein, and means mounting said core catcher eccentric relative to the outer tubular member.

7. A core barrel comprising a rotatable outer tubular member, a barrel member within said outer member in position to receive a core therein, a bearing support carried by the outer member and of skeleton formation, a tubular shaft supportin the barrel member and extending into the skeleton support, means journaling the shaft on the skeleton support with the upper end of the shaft havin open communication through the skeleton support into the outer member around the barrel member, whereby when the barrel member is held non-rotatable by contact with the unsevered core, the outer tubular member may rotate with respect thereto, and means provided within the non-rotating barrel member for gripping the core therein upon upward movement of the outer barrel.

8. A core barrel comprising a rotatable outer tubular member, a barrel member within said outer member in position to receive a core therein, a bearing support carried by the outer member and of skeleton porting the barrel member and extending into the skeleton support, means journaling the shaft on the skeleton support with the upper end of the shaft having open communication through the skeleton support the barrel member, means resiliently mounting the barrel member on the lower end of the shaft and supporting the barrel member thereby pro vviding for rotation of the outer member relative formation, a tubular shaft supinto the outer member around .member having a core to the non-rotatable barrel member, said shaft providing an open passageway for fluid discharge from within the barrel member upon movement of the core therein, means provided within the non-rotating barrel member for gripping the core, and check valve means within the skeleton member and at the upper end of the shaft for controlling the passageway therethrough.

9. A core barrel comprising a barrel member having an open lower end adapted to receive a core therein, said barrel having a downwardly and inwardly tapered inner surface adjacent the lower end thereof, a core catcher within the barrel and having an external surface in position to seat on said tapered surface of the barrel member, said core catcher having an axis of the outer tapered conical member divergent to the axis of the outer cylindrical core barrel while the core is passin therethrough and having the axis of the inner bore of the core catcher in axial alignment with the outer core barrel while the core catcher is in raised position, and having the axis of the tapered conical member in axial alignment with the outer diameter of the cylindrical core barrel and the axis of the inner bore of the core catcher divergent to the axis of the outer core barrel when in seated position.

10. A core barrel comprising a barrel member having an open lower end adapted to receive a core therein, an outer drill member supporting said barrel member and longitudinally movable relative thereto, said barrel having a downwardly and inwardly tapered inner surface adjacent the lower end thereof, a core catcher within the barrel and having an external surface in position to seat on said tapered surface of the barrel memher, said core catcher having an axis of the outer tapered conical member divergent to the axis of the outer cylindrical core barrel while the core is passing therethrogh and having the axis of the inner bore of the core catcher in axial alignment with the outer core barrel while the core catcher is in raised position, and havin the axis of the tapered conical member in axial alignment with the outer diameter of the cylindrical core barrel and the axis of the inner bore of the core catcher divergent to the axis of the outer core barrel when in seated position, said core catcher being constructed for yieldable contracting action upon upward movement of the outer drill member relative to the barrel member to break the core.

11. A core barrel comprising a rotatable outer member, an inner tubular member adapted to receive the core therein and sleeved Within said outer member, a downwardly tapered seat formed within the lower end of said core receiving member and an inwardly protruding shoulder at the upper end of said taper, a complementary tapered, split core catcher grip ring having a shoulder on the upper end for complementary engagement with the inwardly protruding shoulder formed within said core receiving member, so as to form a friction element to prevent relative rotation between the core receivin element and the core, upon downward movement of the core receiving element over the core, a journal carried by the outer member, a shaft rotatably suspended on said journal, and a coiled spring sleeved over the shaft and supporting said inner member on said shaft for axial movement of the outer member relative thereto and mounted for rotation of the outer member relative to said inner member.

12. A core barrel comprising a tubular drilling drill on the lower end thereof, a core.receiving tubesleeved in the drilling member, a downwardly tapered seat formed within the lowerendof said core receiving member and an inwardly protruding shoulder at the upper end, of, said' taper, a complementary tapered, split core catcher grip ring having a shoulder on the upper end for complementary engagement with the inwardly protruding shoulder formed within'said core receiving member, so as to form a friction element to prevent relative rotation between the core receiving element and thev core, upon downward movement of the core receiving element'over the core, a .body supporting the drilling member, a shaft journaled on the body, and a coiled springsupporting the tube on the shaftfor yielding movementof the tube lengthwiserelative to the drilling member.

13; A- eorebarrel comprising a tubular drilling member having a core drill on the lower end thereof, a corereceiving tube sleeved in the-drillin member, a downwardly tapered seat formed within the lower end of said core receiving member and an inwardly protruding shoulder at the upper end of said taper, a complementary tapered,

split core catcher grip ring having a shoulder on the upper end for complementary engagement with the inwardly protruding shoulder formed within said core receiving member, so as to form a friction element to prevent relative rotation between the core receiving element and 3 the core, upon downward movement of the core receiving element over the core, a body supporting the drilling member, means supporting the tube on the body for yielding movement lengthwise relative to the tubular drilling member, said supporting means including a journal for rotation of the drilling member relative to the tube, said tube having the lower end thereof disconnected from the lower end portion of the drilling member and core drill for freedom of fluid circulation therebetween.

14. A core barrel comprising a tubular drilling member having a core drill on the lower end thereof, a core receiving tube sleeved in the drilling member, a downwardly tapered seat formed within the lower end of said core receiving member and an inwardly protruding shoulder at the upper end of said taper, a complementary tapered, split core catcher grip ring having a shoulder on the upper end for complementary engagement with the inwardly protruding shoulder formed within said core receiving member, so as to form a friction element to prevent relative rotation between the core receiving element and the core, upon downward movement of the core receiving element over the core, a body supporting the drilling member, means supporting the tube on the body for yielding movement lengthwise relative to the tubular drilling member, said supporting means including a journal for rotation of the drilling member relative to the tube.

15. A core barrel comprising a tubular drilling member having a core drill on the lower end thereof, a core receiving tube sleeved in the drilling member, a downwardly tapered seat formed within the lower end of said core receiving member and an inwardly protruding shoulder at the upper end of said taper, a complementary tapered, split core catcher grip ring having a shoulder on the upper end for complementary engagement with the inwardly protruding shoulder formed within said core receiving member, so as to form a friction element to prevent relative rotation between the core receiving element and the core, upondownward movement of the core receiving element over the core, a body supporting the drilling member, means supportingthe tube on the body for yielding movement lengthwise relative to the tubular drilling member, saidlsupporting means including a journal'for rotation of the drillingmember relative to the tube, said tube having the lower end thereof disconnected from the lower end portion of the drilling member and core drill ,for freedom, of fluid circulation therebetween.

16. A corebarrel comprising a tubular drilling member having a core drill on the lower end thereof, a core receiving tube sleeved in the drilling member, a downwardly tapered seat formed within the lower, end of said core receiving member and an inwardly protruding shoulder, at the upper end of said taper, a complementary tapered, .split corecatcher grip ring having a shoulder on the upper end for complementary engagement with the inwardly protruding shoulder formed within said core receiving member, so as to form a friction element to prevent relative rotation between the core receiving element and the core, upon downward movement of the core receiving element over the core, a body supporting the drilling member, a shaft journaled on the body, a coiled sprin supporting the tube on the shaft for yielding movement of the tube lengthwise relative to the drilling member.

1'7 A core barrel comprising an outer rotatable tubular member, an inner tubular member resiliently sleeved within said outer tubular member, which inner member is adapted to receive a core, means mounting said inner tubular member to allow for rotation of said outer tubular member relative to the inner tubular member when said outer tubular member is in a lowered position, a tapered core catcher ring seated within a complementary tapered seat in the inner tubular member for engaging the core to normally hold the inner tubular member against rotary movement relative to the core, and means for clutchingly inter-engaging said inner tubular member with said outer tubular member upon upward movement of said outer tubular member.

18. A core barrel comprising an outer rotatable tubular member, an inner tubular member resiliently sleeved within said outer tubular member, the inner tubular member being adapted to receive a core, means mounting said inner tubular member to permit rotation of said outer tubular member relative to the inner tubular member when said outer tubular member is in a lowered position, a tapered core catcher ring seated within a complementary tapered seat in the inner tubular member for engaging the core to normally hold the inner tubular member against rotary movement relative to the core, and cooperative bevel clutch means formed between said inner tubular member and said outer tubular member so that upon relative upward movement of said outer tubular member said inner tubular member will engage said outer tubular member to rotate in unison therewith.

19. A core barrel comprising an outer tubular member, an inner tubular member resiliently sleeved within said outer tubular member and adapted to receive a core therein, a core catcher within said inner tubular member, said resiliently mounted inner tubular member being normally out of engagement with said outer tubular mem- 75, ber during the normal core cutting operation,

11 means at the lower ends of said inner and outer tubular members for clutchin them together for rotatable or upward vertical movement as a unit upon relative axial movement between said members, means mounting said inner tubular member with respect to said outer tubular member for rotation of said outer tubular member relative to the inner tubular member while the inner tubular member is held substantially stationary relative to the core, said resilient mounting of said inner member adapted to permit suflicient axial movement of said outer tubular member with respect to said inner tubular member to cause interengagement of the clutching means of said tubular members upon upward movement of said outer tubular member so as to transmit a pulling and a torsional action to said core.

CARROLL L. DEELY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Re. 18,500 147,492 272,681 710,012 790,331 1,565,430 1,615,921 1,845,230 1,995,336 2,005,819 2,034,257 2,040,889 2,128,914 

